Passover, Emily's Birthday and the Continuing 4th year.

So how I always forget how hard the second semester is, even in a year when it is not overloaded with classes. It seems to drag on and on and on.  At the moment I am back home in Stoke because its Passover, or will be the 1st night Sader is tonight. But the semester did go right up till the end. In fact we still have a week of classes left after the Peasch holidays. Plus some catch-up classes.  Fortunately the assessments this semester are relatively light. I have a fairly major essay for Rabbinic Texts, a major presentation of Megilot, a presentation (and I think a report) for spirituality and finally a report for Tikkun Olam.

Then there are both of Biennials to attended, one for LJ and one for the MRJ. Kol Bo in the summer and the LBC Day of Celebration and finally Ordination. And then my Fourth Year is over. It somehow seems like a lot and like a little simultaneously. And i have as always taken things for limmud, which somehow I also always manage to forget how much work they will actually be. Although I am sure I will enjoy them as well.

As busy as the year has been I have managed to see a few friends. Matthew and others and last week it was Emily's birthday, which is always a lot of fun.

My extra reading lesson continue, and I am pretty sure that they are making a difference which is great. I am also continuing to meet and train with my personal trainer and I am sure this is making a difference. Last week was the first time that we have been able to properly train out of doors. Because the weather was finally nice enough.

Oh I almost forgot that one marker on the year that is still left is the College Dinner.  Anyway this is just an update and really a very profound one at. Things are carrying on much as they have before. And as of today I have 447 days to go until ordination.

First week back at school

This past week was my first one back at school so I now have a much better feeling for what shape the semester is going to take. Overall I am pretty upbeat I only have a small number of classes admittedly ones that are going to take rather a lot of work. I will just need to sort out in my mind what the assessments look like for this coming semester and then I will really have a feel for how things are going to play out.

I am still really enjoying my placement down at KLS which is good as I shall be going there rather a lot in the next few weeks entering a busy patch.  I am also still enjoying Personal Training I can really start to feel positive effects.

I also think that working on Hebrew Vocalisation is starting to pay dividends. So all in all things are good.

I have come back home to stoke for the weekend but I was struck down by my periodic motionless motion sickness so i lost a whole day so I am feeling both a little week and achy as well as behind already with my work. (Not that I really am mind.)

So steady as she goes. 1/12 of my 8th semester is under my belt. Oh and I have 518 days to go.

Hanukkah, Home, and lots and lots of work

Hi lovely people over here on this blog, or any of my blogs really.  It feels like time for an update.  I have been very very very busy and I know I start nearly all my blog postings this way but this is because I nearly always am very busy.

Last weekend I managed to slip in a visit home, which was very nice as Hanukkah was still happening, as always I was surprised by how much Aaron has grown and changed since the last visit even though the prior visit was only five weeks earlier, he is changing at a remarkable rate.

At school academically things are still going well, although as the semester draws to a close I am getting increasingly busy. For example I have two presentations next week, and I am starting to think but essays and the like.  I am also quiet a long way along with preparing my research proposal for my Rabbinic Dissertation, which is both good and rather scary.  Outside of school work I am still really enjoying working at Kingston Liberal Synagogue, which is a lovely community and I am learning so much from Charley B.

This weekend has proved enjoyable but tiring, Friday Night I went to Hendon Reform Synagogue to their first ever Rock Kabbalat Shabbat, which was a great success and I stayed on for the supper.

Saturday I went down to KLS to attend the interfaith/family service and then afterwards there was a meeting of the teachers for the religion school.

Then that evening I met up with some old friends, Mandy, Ali and Matthew, so that was fun but it meant a late night.

I have, as you will not be surprised to learn, a lot to do today, including the general stuff of life and of course preparation for next week.

Looking forward there is limmud, still a lot to do on my sessions but I am excited about the conference and seeing everyone again. Also this year's chevaruta books look fantastic.

So all in all things are good and there are 574 days to go.

A brief update

Hey guys. I have managed to squeeze a weekend out of my timetable to go home. Its always nice to get back to Stoke however briefly and who knows when I'll be able to come back up here again. I am still very busy although more or less on top of things. This is largely thanks to the fact that although I have lots of assessments things are not as insane as they were last semester.

I am enjoying my classes both the practical ones as well as the more utilitarian ones. I think that this is down to the fact that all courses are now more focused on what we'll actually be doing once we are out there. This is all to the good as this is getting nearer and nearer.

I am also enjoying my placement, as well as going down to teach the Kabbalat Torah group I have now lead a service there so it really feels like a real thing now. I have also paid a one off visit to Reading (which also counts towards my 4th year placement). This does mean that I am going to be perching on a much more regular bases so I am going to stop posting them here, unless there is a particularly important reason for me to do so.

As i mentioned in my last post I am busy with my sessions for Limmud in December, so all in all busy but a positive busy.

Outside of School/placement I am still continuing with Daf Yomi we are now in tractate Shekelim, I have also started training/working out with a personal trainer. At first it really felt a little like being hit by a brick wall but it is defiantly starting to get easier and I feel so much better already. I think its really necessary because already taken a toll on my physical health.

All in all I am very busy, but in a good way, but am generally pretty happy with how everything is going.

settling into my fourth year

Just the title of this posting is a little scary. But yes it does feel as if this year is settling into place, much faster than usual and although I am academically going to be a lot less busy this year than I was last I think that I will nevertheless be busy enough that I don't know when I get to blog again so this posting might have to do for a bit. (Although I might make a post Birthday blog post in about a week).

So, my classes at LBC look good and the assessments do not look to bad at all, in fact I think that I will enjoy doing some of them. We also have a nice balance between the academic (which is now at MA level) and the practical which is nice.

But additional reasons to be busy, firstly Emily and I are co-chairs of the Student Society, which is more work but hopefully we will be able to do a good job in representing the needs of the student body and in working towards making the college a happier place. Additionally Emily and I are really pushing 'Rabbinic Students for Pro-Zion'. This will be a lot of work but I am really excited and keen about it so this is good.

Then there is Limmud, not the Limmud Chervaruta Project but the conference itself, where I will be presenting sessions. So busy there as well.

One of our classes this semester is on 'research methods', part of which is looking forward to preparing us to write our Rabbinic Thesis. This too is making this year feel both very real and very different from those which have come before. As if, the end is if not in sight then as if it will be insight once we get around this next corner.

Outside of College, I am getting more and more excited about my 4th year placement at KLS. Last Saturday I went down to see how their Saturday Morning services work. And it was a very special occasion, so it will have been both more crowed and livelier than normal. But nevertheless I think that working there is going to be a truly great experience.

Outside of both work and College I am working with a personal trainer (yes I know) so far I have only had one session the aftereffects of which I am really starting to feel. But I think that it is important to do, because my life style hasn't exactly been helping my overall health and in the long run I think it will make me fill a lot better.

So generally I am busy again but its a good kind of busy. And I have definite markers lying ahead so it feels as if I am making progress with the year. Next week my birthday, then a very early Hanukkah, getting ready for Limmud, the end of the school term, Limmud, essays and exams. (By which time we are already into 2014).

The spring semester is always a bit broken up and then the year draws to a close. But I am not thinking about next semester yet. There is a lot to keep me focused on the here and now. But all in all I am stull really happy and enjoying my 4th year.

Last day of class for third year

As the title says today was the last day of classes in my third year.  And it was quite a busy one, started with services as normal. The liturgy in which Emily and I had presentations. Both went well, I think.  Then after a very short break it was into Rabbinic Literature Insensitive, again we had presentations (there are more students in this class).  I was happy with how this presentation went also.  After a lunch time meeting of the student-society with the principle we had midrash. We studied a short midrash topical for Shavuot.
Then after a trip to the library it was time to go home, none too soon.  So all I have left to do is:

Short bit written work for Rabbinic Literature (although it is assessed and does carry marks)
One essay more or less from Scratch
re-drafting one (needs major work)
finish of last essay.

Then all I have to do is find time to work on my limmud thing, oh and there is still Kol-Bo.

Last post for a little bit.

This will probably be my last posting for a while, as I am about to enter a period of intense activity followed by a family holiday (where I'll in more or less away from easy internet access and what time I have will be focused on emails.)
All this means that I will not really have time for blogging, but I will return as soon as possible.  At the moment I am working away on essays no surprise there really.  I think that in all probability I'll have finished my Maimonides essay by the end of day on Tuesday, I am continuing to work on Rabbinic literature intensive essay.
I also need to get as much work done on Education as possible, I don't need to finish it or even really draft it.  All I need to do is plan, find materials and then photocopy actual materials then I can work on it while on my 'holiday', then all I will need to do, and I say all advisedly is finish off Rabbinic Literature intensive, and rework midrash.
All in all, although I am not really happy I am no longer panicking.  I also have two presentations remaining: You guessed it Rabbinic literature intensive and Liturgy.  So in terms of assessments that is what remains.  In terms of class I have a full school week remaining, and in truth I am more than ready for it come to an end.  There is also the formal College dinner (again next week).
Looking further ahead there is Kol Bo; which I am hopeful will be interesting (although by stage of the year I'll be very very tired.)
I am currently very tired as I went over to S., last night and the conversation although fascinating was intense and I am not used to 4:45 am starts!
When I got back to the flat at about 9:20 am, I simply crashed and had about two hours of sleep. Then I went out to enjoy the sunshine (patchy though it was) and to get some stationary.  Its always pleasant, wonderful in fact to read outside in the fresh air.
After getting my stationary I was returning though the park when I noticed how beautiful the cherry blossom trees were, so i went and sat below the canopy. In the end I lay down and looked up at the sky though the variegated red-pink-white blossom and the criss-crossing branches. Very beautiful and very peaceful then it was back to the flat to get on with some work.
Both for school and for the Limmud Chavaruta project.
Latter I'll phone home because its been quite a while.

Middles are hard as well

All beginings are difficult as it says in the Talmud, but in there own way middles seem really hard also, in someways harder than beginnings, currently I find myself not lost in ocean of Talmud but lost in the forest of rabbinical school.  It now feels like I have been at this for a very long time.  And in some ways I have those days of sitting in my garden revising Hebrew like mad, before having meaningful conversations with my fellow incoming students seem a long long time ago. And indeed they were that was all happening in April and May 2010!, but it still feels as if I have a long way still to travel and I do. Two whole years.  It has taken so much to get to this point.  And the third year is not yet over.  It is almost over, but there is still much left to do.  So far I have done my Essays for Prophets, Liturgy, Piyyutim, Midrash (almost, I have a very good first draft but it still needs some work), Rabbinic literature intensive (well in hand but its horribly complex) then we reach the subjects which are less prepared and ready to go. Education interesting but I'm struggling, and Rambam which I still haven't really started yet.
So standing between me and the end of my third are: Whats left of classes, not many now. One presentation (on the 13th) I had a presentation yesterday as well.  Additionally I have some Jewish Care Norward placement visits.  Two full essays, one part essay and writing another.  Put that way it sounds like a lot.  However, it does feel as if I've turned out of the last corner of the lap and am on the home-straight even if there are two more years to go and 795 days.

Well I am teaching in a synagogue tomorrow and leader services at school and I have a lot to do before I can go to sleep so I had better get of this blog and go and do something.

799

So as of today I have less than 800 days to go until ordination. 799, in fact.  Today was a fairly typical Thursday, so because its Thursday it started out with Jewish Care (over at Jewish Care Direct).  This was interesting today (although it did get off to something of a rough start).
Although a really nice thing was bumping into my cousin Clear at Jewish Care.  Then it was back to LBC to have one of our reflective session.  Rather than doing it in a classroom or even the room or prayer we headed out into the LBC grounds to have the session there.
Then rather than working in the Library I picked up what I need and then headed home. Party just to enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.
Anyway essays to write, presentations to prepare, reports to write, and the like.

Today was a good day

Its amazing what a little sunshine and warmth can do to left my mood. But today has been a busy day and one filled with work but it was nevertheless a good day.  This was due two two factors. Firstly because it had breaks in it, yes actually breaks. And secondly because its sunny.
I slept until my alarm went off at 7am and then headed off to college, I normally wake earlier than this so this alone the little extra-sleep got the day off to good start.  The walk to school was much more pleasant than it has been in ages, the sun was shinning and the world of nature was waking, birds singing and butterflies and other insects abounded.
The morning service was led by a visiting rabbi who had come to talk to us about Rabbi Dr. John Rayner, this was very interesting and it was also a very pleasant service.  I then had quite a sizeable break (very nice and very rare) so I did some preparations in the library and then went and did my reading for class outside in the fresh air.
My next class was on Rambam and was very interesting, I feel that I am starting to get to grips with the some of his ideas.
After lunch (more time outdoors) we had one of our extended Rabbinic literature class.  We are looking at a fascinating section of Tractate Kiddushin, during class we also looked at how to use various on-line resources to help with writing our essays.
After that I went to the library and did some more work on my Midrash and Rabbinic literature essays.
I then came back to the flat and did some more work.  I still hope to get a relatively early night but I still have some preparation to do for Piyyutim class tomorrow. But today was a really gently pleasant day.

Move year markers

Well the year is proceeding though its marks, after Emily's birthday and Yom Hashoah (as mentioned in my last post) after that there was Yom HaZikkeron (not that this was really marked all that much) and Yom Haatzmiut. Emily led a great morning service for the students and in the evening I went to celebration at College, held for about four local synagogues.

I have been working away on assessments.  Although I haven't finished any more assessments I have made good progress on Rabbinic Literature (I am writing about disability and Jewish law: focusing in on the status of the Cherash).

I also feel that Midrash is proceeding okay to the point where I'll be able to start writing soon.  My other two essays (Education and Rambam are somewhat on the back burner for the moment.)

This weekend I was back home in Newcastle-under-Lyme for a flying visit. Partly in order to celebrate Aaron's birthday.

Looking forward next week is shaping up to be rather busy, although exceptionally so.  I am reading Torah on Monday and then there are the normal class with the normal class prep.  In the week after that I have a formal teaching thing on Revelation and then assessments really gear-up.  The date lines are for June 3rd.  But in addition to that I have two presentations: One for Rabbinic literature and one for Midrash.  After the school year is over and after ordination (which takes place in July) I am going to a conference on Synagogue music. A bit surprising for me but i think it should be both interesting and useful. But already I am kind of ready for this year to be over and done with.

Additionally I have turned at least part of my attention the High Holy Days which are ridiculously early this year. And as last year I am involved with the Limmud Chevarurta project.

So long and short I am very busy.

Emily's Birthday and other days

The year is moving though its marker points, as it always does, last week was Yom Hashoah and yesterday was Emily's birthday, although the celebrations are continuing today.  Yesterday after giving Emily her grifts and card we went and got a nice cake and some food for that evenings festivities.  Later  Josh D., came around and we went to Brent Cross before coming back to the flat.  Hannah and Haim came and we had cake, pizza and wine.  A very happy and fun evening :)
Latter today we are going to go out and have drinks as a further celebration.  At school things are still proceeding onwards.  Although I haven't finished off any further assignments I have come up/finalised my plan for my midrash essay (I am pretty happy with it).
I have also finished and sent off my research proposal for my rabbinic literature essay.  Title, Abstract and Bibliography...(I have sent off for a few further books to help with writing this essay.)  This really just leaves, the essays on Rambam and education to get under way.  So all in all I am happy with how school is progressing.
This years Limmud Chervatura Project is also starting to get off the ground.  This will be a lot of work but I am sure I will enjoy it as much this year as I did last.

Next week is Yom Hazikkeron and Yom Haatzmiut (the day of remembrance and Israel Independence day.) At this time I really miss being in Israel and it seems strange to think that it was two full years ago that I was marking these days in Israel.  The memory of the Yom Hashoah ceremony at HUC and then Yom Hazikkaron at the School in Rehavia are still very powerful.

Back here in London I think, finger crossed that spring may actually have come now. The birds are very actively building their nests and there is real warmth in the sunshine.

sermon

This was my Passover Sermon sent out via Leo Baeck College email. (You can sign up to receive other Diveri Torah by students and members of faculty:

Speaking as something of a Limmudnik I have always found Limmud to be an intellectually stimulating experience:  one that leaves me buzzing with ideas for many weeks after the conference itself has ended.
I normally endeavour to attend as many different sessions on as many different topics as possible.  This past year I attended one session in particular that has stayed with me.  Partly this is because it upset me greatly.  It distressed me as a man, as a Jew, and perhaps, most of all, it distressed and troubled me as a passionate Zionist.

The session concerned was led by Rabbi Levi Lauer and concerned the plight of women who have been trafficked into Israel for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

This Passover is the 150th since the emancipation declaration by Abraham Lincoln which freed the slaves in the Southern States of America.  It is also the 180th  since slavery was made illegal in Britain and the British Empire.

If only things were as simple as that, and yet we know that they are not.  Slavery remains a real and contemporary problem.  Many of the consumer goods and clothes we use and buy are manufactured by workers in conditions which come close to slavery.

And even more troubling the trafficking of women and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation and slavery is endemic: it is a major problem in almost all industrialised counties but it is especially acute in Israel.

Partly, this is a result of geography.  Israel's border with Sinai is a difficult one to police and as well as weapons, and drugs, armed gangs also smuggle women across the border.  But it is not just a problem of geography it is also a political problem.  In Israel security will always, and understandably, be given the highest of priorities and sometimes this means that things which should not be neglected, sadly, are neglected.

Rightly Israel is an open society, one to which asylum seekers are attracted and, moreover a country which facilitates Aliyah by Jews from across the globe.  Criminal organisations have taken advantage of all of these factors in order to traffic women into Israel and then, often, onward to the rest of the world.

But things are far from being entirely negative.  Israel has tough laws on its books to deal with the problem of human trafficking, it is simply a matter of finding the political will to enforce these laws.

This is where we Jews of the Diaspora can help; there is an established campaign to push this issue up the ladder of political consciousness in Israel.  And all it takes is sending one email once a week!
If enough of us were to email enough members of the Knesset on a regular basis then the problem of trafficked women would no longer be a neglected one.  If the leaders of Israeli society are convinced that we in the Diaspora care about this, then they will care about it more and accord it a higher priority.

We are currently celebrating Passover as a community.  To my mind Passover, the Seder and the Haggadah are among the greatest and most enduring innovations of Rabbinic Judaism. The Rabbis of the Mishnaic period transformed what had been in its essence a cultic rite totally bound to the Temple into the home-based inter-generational celebration that we know today.  They more than succeeded in their endeavours.  With its subtle use of texts, songs and rituals Passover is, now, the near perfect mixture of communal and individual.

There is a tradition that one of the objectives of the readings, rites and songs is to gain a personal and embodied feeling of what the Exodus from Egypt must have been like:  at least in part really to feel as if we personally had taken part in that momentous event.  As if we had really been released from slavery in Egypt.

Peasch is the quintessential festival of freedom.  Freedom is what it is really all about. Towards the end of the Seder it is a custom to sing, ‘We were slaves in Egypt', and then go on to declare that if the Eternal had not redeemed us from slavery we might still be enslaved.

This Passover we should all take the opportunity of thinking about those women and children who are currently enslaved and also take some simple steps and actions, even as simple as writing the occasional email, to create pressure for their cause to become high profile and main stream. We will only truly be free ourselves when none are enslaved.

Student rabbi Adam Frankenberg

Passover break

It is very near Passover, I'm back in Newcastle-under-Lyme for the festival.  In fact we have just done our search for Chamezt.  I am still very busy although I have although I have almost finished another essay (Piyyutim). And I am busily working away on my other subjects as well. But generally things are going well academically at least smooth sailing.  But I am very tired.  It was a tough close to the semester. Finishing with a trip to Ravenswood Village as part of our (Emily and my) Jewish-Care/Norwood placement.
This was amazing however, getting there via public transport provided very difficult and required an early start and three trains. (Plus lots of phone calls when inevitably we missed a connection.) But it was well worth it when we got there.
I am enjoying having a bit of break from LBC and the opportunity to catch up with some work and take it a little easy.

Back Home but busy

I am briefly home in Newcastle-under-Lyme although this does not mean I am not working, I have brought a bunch of work to do with me.  I have been working very hard in order to try and clear some space but I am still very busy working on sermons, translations, keeping up to date with reading for class, trying to organise the rota for student services.  So much the same as normal really.  I am enjoying many of my courses.
Especially liturgy and Piyyutim classes.  But I am looking forward to the brake in classes we will get soon when there is a gap in classes for JCM I am not going this year so I will have a real break and a let up in pressure that will allow me to really get ahead with work.
As has been the case up until now academically things are going smoothly. More than smoothly really. I am also getting to grips with the more practical aspects of the course as well.
I should probably go and get on with readings, sermons and all the other things I have brought with me.

Half way point

Today I had my last classes of my fifth semester, which means that I am actually half way though.  I am not sure about wether to laugh or cry about this.  It feels as though it has taken so much just to reach this point in terms of energy/time/money/emotional resources just to reach this point.  And it also feels as though I have been doing it forever.

And I think that, wow, half what does the next half bring. But on the whole I'm pretty happy about it and am enjoying having reached this stage.

It is also exciting because I've grown and changed so much in these past two and half years.  And I think what will the next two and half years bring as I move more and more out of the classroom and into the real rabbinic world.

Today was the last day I visited the particular day care centre I have been working in it has been very interesting but the program still needs working on.  

Academic things are going very smoothly I am happy and although I still have three essays to write (Liturgy, Psalms and History) I am happy with what I am going to do for liturgy and psalms; which is to be based on the presentation I did on psalm 114. I am a little less happy with history albeit that I have selected my title.  The only other thing that is need is a presentation of prophets but that is not scheduled to take place until the 28th of January. 

Emily and I go to Limmud on Sunday, I am very excited about that. It has been too long since I have been able to go so it will be good to see my limmud friends.

I am rather tired. But am generally happy. 

Newcastle holiday

I have just returned from a short family holiday, really no more than a long weekend. But getting any brake at all was great. I took the train up from Kings Cross and got to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, not the normal one I go too.  That Friday we just had a standard Friday night meal Helen and Andrew and rebecca baby and Said and of course Mum and Dad and me. On Saturday we went to the Baltic art gallery which was really interesting and had some exciting exhibitions. I especially liked Luca (which was a mountain inside a mountain hut.) On Sunday we went to the beach it was sunny, how I missed sunshine.  I made two beach sculpture. I have tried to post photos of them.  Monday we had basically the whole day in town so we went to a really nice art gallery (mre classical this time).  Then it was time to come home I separated from the others at the station, they were going to Stoke and I of course was coming back to London. Today I taught my Bar-mitzvah kid at FPS and then went into school. I got a couple of educational posters. 

This first one is called rainbow stones, not a very imaginative title.

This one doesn't really have a title.

Last time uploading these didn't work that well lets hope that it works this time. :)